Critter Alley

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Umm, Umm Good

I've mentioned before that Indy has had a number of health issues in the last few years. He'll turn 9 next month. We were referred by our regular vet to various vet specialists. No one seemed able to identify Indy's trouble exactly. He'd get meds to treat symptoms until the next bout of lesions or vomiting or diahrrea occurred. He was miserable and so was I. And with no "doggie insurance", expenses mounted.

I searched everywhere I could think to find answers of my own. One day I stumbled on an article written by Dr. Michael Fox, an holistic veterinarian and syndicated columnist. He maintained that with the chemicals and additives in pet food, he has seen a huge increase in his patients with auto immune illnesses, allergies, and other health problems. He recommended an organic, home-prepared diet and had the recipe posted on his website. What did I have to lose? I went to the site and found the recipe.

It's been more than a year that Indy's been on his home-cooked diet. He still has a couple of flare-ups a year, but otherall he's much healthier and happier. I cook a batch about every two weeks, and freeze the food in daily portions, so it's not too labor intensive. People roll their eyes when they hear I cook for my dog, but it's not the first time someone's wondered about my sanity. Probably won't be the last, either.

1 comment:

I'm so glad that the new diet seems to be working! I'm a firm believer in "whatever works"---I've had good docs in the past, but I don't necessarily believe they have all the answers about everything. People (and pet members of the family) are unique--not one-size-fits-all!

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Pat Wahler is an award winning writer of creative personal essays and fiction. Her work has been published in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, Sasee Magazine, Not Your Mother's Book series, Storyteller Magazine, and other collections of poetry and prose. Pat's current projects include a Civil War era novel and a children's book.